Artificial denture.



E. G. BENNETT. v v ARTIFICIAL DENTUREJ APPLIUATION FILED )[AB.8, 1913.

' Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

ERNEST C. BENNETT, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

ARTIFICIAL nn'ga'roan.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913,

Application flled March 8, 1913. SerialNo. 752,910.

ful Improvements in Artificial Dentures, of which the following isafull, clear and exact description.

Th s invention relates to improvements in artificial dentures and ismore particularly concerned with a readily attachableand-removableartificial bridge for use in connection with permanent end abutmentteeth which, when in position, affords-a very snug fit and whichcombines simplicity of construction with ease of operation. 1

The present invention is described in detail in the followingspecification taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating preferable embodiments thereof. i

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation conventionallyrepresenting part of the gum with the-bridge structure of the presentinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bridgercmored. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. Fig. 4 is aview in end elevation of the bridge removed. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection taken through the bridge 1 on line 5-5, Fig. 1, as attached toperinanent end abutment teeth. Fig. (3 is an enlarged detail view of theattaching means shown in Fig. '0 but of reverse form. Figs. 7 and 8 areviews in top plan and end elevation respectively of a modified form ofattaching means. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating anothermodified form of attaching means. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9but showing a third modification of the attaching'means. view in frontelevation of the spring latch holder shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is adetail bridge of the prescnt invention may be in-- "iew of the springlatch shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, and particularly Figs. 16, 1designates conventionally apart of the gum and 2 permanent end abutmentteeth between which the sorted. These abutment teeth form in effectanchorage teeth and are usually natural teeth. -In the present instancethey are preferably capped, crowned or otherwise prepared with inwardlyprojecting abutments 3 adapted to engage with the bridge and with thefastening means thereof.

Fig. 11 is a.

\Vhile I prefer to provide the end abutment teeth With separate inwardlyprojecting abutments 3, these abutments may be extended and joined 'toform a bar 3 (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2). V

The bridge forming the subject-matter of this invention comprises asaddle portion t shaped on its under side to rest upon the natural gumbetween the permanent teeth 2 and carrying on its upper face one or moreartificial teeth 5. Adjacent its ends, the saddle portion 4 is providedWith recesscs 6-7 adapted to receive the inward projections 3 of the endabutment teeth. In case the bar 3 is used in placeof the spacedabutments 3, a slot will be provided extending longitudinally of thesaddleand permitting the latter to fit over the gum and 'over this bar.The recess 6 is in the form of a socket adapted to seat over itsprojection 3, while-the recess 7 is inthe form of a slot extendingupwardly from the lower edge of the saddle, he upper edge of the saddleresting upon its projection 3.

Embedded in the material of the saddle, which in. practice is quite.hard and durable, is a spring latch having one end 8" firmly inserted inthe body of the saddle adjacent one end and, preferably so as tounderlie the recess 6 therein and engage the under face of theprojection 3 seated in said recess. This springlatch adjacent its otherend is provided with a latching arm 8 and with a finger piece 9extending therefrom. The latching arm is positioned within the recessedportion 7 of the bridge saddle so as to bring its upper face beneath theunder face of the projection 3 resting within the recess. The springmaterial of the latch member normally throws its latch arm inwardly tobring the same beneath the projec tion of the end abutment tooth. Thefinger piece 9 extends out to the rear of this end abutment tooth andmay be readily moved by the finger orby an instrument to retract thelatch arm 8 from said recess so that the bridge may be easily removedfrom the gum and its end abutment teeth for repair, cleans ing, etc.When it is desired to againinscrt the bridge between its end abutmentteeth, it is only necessary to bring the recess 6 at one end of thebridge over a projection 3, retract the latch arm 8 by means of thefinger piece 9 and seat the other end of the bridge over the oppositeprojection 3, the finger piece 9 when released permitting its Fig. 6and. as will be obvious. This form of spring latch may be also modifiedsomewhat in form, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the end 1001?the latch is adapted,

- to be firmly seated in the saddle of the bridge.

in a manner corresponding to the end 8 of the first form described, Atits opposite end the latch is provided, with an inwardly proiectinglatching arm-l1 having its upper face shaped to'correspond with theshape of the inward projection from the end abutment tooth with which itcotiperates. .This form of latch is also preferably provided with afinger piece 12- and is'used in operation in a manner similar to that ofthe first form described. I

In the two forms heretofore described, the inherent resiliency of thematerial of the latch arm has been utilized to normally projest thelatching arm of the latch into latchring position, 1 In Fig. 9 I haveillustrated a further modifiat-ion of the latching means wherein a latchmember 13 is providedet its ends with complemental latch arms 14: andwith a central inwardly projecting headed stud 15. This stud is seatedin and moves longitudinally of a cylinder 16 Within which is mounted acoiled spring 17 bearing against the head of the stud and normallymoving the stud and the latch member with its latching arms 14 inwardlyto bring these latching arms beneath the under faces of the inwardprojections 301' the under face of a continuous bar structure, such assuggested in Fig. 2, the saddle portion 4 being provided in such eventwith an elongated groove in place of the recesses (i and 7 The latchmember 18 is also preferably provided with a linger piece 13 by means ofwhich these latching arms may be withdrawn from the saddle recesses topermit the removal of the bridge,

A stillfurther modification is illustrated in Figsfiifl-l2 oi thedrawings, wherein a latch holder 18 is provided, this holder having arms19 extending therefrom and embedded in the material of the saddle 4. Theend or" the holder 18 is in the form of a tubular casing through whichthe threaded end 20 of a latch member 21 extends, the opposite end ofthe latch member being provided with a latching arm 22 and with a fingerpiece 23. A nut 24 engages the threaded end 20 of the latch member andholds it firmly in its holder 18. The operation of this latching memberis the same as that of the first form described It has this advantagethereover, however; flhe provision of the nut 24 enables a latch armwhich has been or has become ineffective, to be removed and replaced bya new one without destroying or cutting awaythe material of the saddleportion of the bridge. 1

The removable bridge herein. described, in addition to giving an equaldistribution of pressure upon the teeth and gum, is interlocked With theend abutment or abutments so that it cannot be Withdrawn from engagementtherewith during mastication, as the frequent trouble experienced withthe removable bridges of the prior art. This is,

of course, made possible by reason of the factthat the latch member ormembers are positioned to underlie the'permanent abutments so thatupward movement of the saddle or bridge portion which carries theselatch members, is prevented by reason of the intel-locking engagement ofthe latch member or members and the permanent abutment or abutments.

In all of the forms which have been described, two permanent endabutment teeth have been specified. It is not necessary, however, thatsuch end abut-merits be both permanent teeth, as one of said abutmentscould be carried by a bar extension, for instance from a permanent endtooth; nor is the in vention limited in. fact, to a bridge inconjunction with two end abutments, butmay be used in conjunction with asingle end abutment, the movable latch member in-- terlocki ng thebridge with this single-abutment.

c What I claim, therefore, an desire to se-- cure by Letters Patent is:

1. A removable artificial. bridge for use in 1 conjunction with apermanent end abutment comprising a removable saddle portion ar rangedto rest upon the natural gum adjacent such abutment and provided with anartificial tooth, and means carried by the bridge intermediate its upperand lower edges and movable transversely of the bridge for detachablyinterlocking said bridge with and against movement relative to said endabutment, said means "including a movable latch member carried bythebridge.

2. A removable artificial bridge for use in conjunction with. apermanent end l haw ing a projecting abutment, comprising removablesaddle portion arranged to rest upon the natural gum adjacent suchpermanent tooth abutment and carrying an artificial tooth, means carriedby said saddle portion arranged to interloclringly engage with anddetachably hold said bridge'to abutment, said engaging means including alatch member carried by the saddle below said tooth and movabletransversely or" said saddle, and means normally holdi saidlatchmemberin abutment posiconjunction with permanent en mg pro ect1n conjunctionwith a permanent end tooth having a projecting abutment comprising aremovable saddle portion arranged to rest upon the natu; .11, gumadjacent said permanent tooth abutment and recessed to receive the sametherein, said saddle portion carrying an artificial tooth, and meanscarried b said saddle ortion positioned to interloc the same witli saidend tooth, said means including a spring latch member movabletransversely of said saddle and having a portion normally positionedwithin said saddle recess at a point intermediate its upper and loweredges to underlie said permanent tooth abutment when received therein.

4. A removable artificial brid for use in d teeth havabutments,comprising a removable sad le portion arranged to rest upon the naturalgum between such permain the Patent Oflice.

' [sun] nent teeth and recessed to receive said proecting abutments, anartificial tooth carried by said saddle portion, and retaining abutmentscarried by said saddle portion and positioned to engage said permanentprojectby said saddle portion, and retaining abutments comprising amovable bar of spring material having a latching portion normallypositioned within a saddle recess to underlie the permanent toothabutment received therein, said bar being provided with an extensionwhereby it may be moved to withdraw its latching ortion from beneathsaid permanent tooth a mtment and thereby permit the removal of thebridge.

ERNEST o. BENNETT.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,074,345, grantedSeptember 30, 1913, upon the application of Ernest C. Bennetlg of NewYork, N. Y., for an Y improvement in Artificial Dentures, errorsappear'in the printed specification requiring correction follows: Page1, line 88, for the reference-numeral 8'- read 8,' page 3, strike outline 26; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the easeSigned and sealed this-14th dayof October, A. 1)., 1913.

i R. T. FRAZIER,

conjunction with permanent en mg pro ect1n conjunction with a permanentend tooth having a projecting abutment comprising a removable saddleportion arranged to rest upon the natu; .11, gum adjacent said permanenttooth abutment and recessed to receive the same therein, said saddleportion carrying an artificial tooth, and means carried b said saddleortion positioned to interloc the same witli said end tooth, said meansincluding a spring latch member movable transversely of said saddle andhaving a portion normally positioned within said saddle recess at apoint intermediate its upper and lower edges to underlie said permanenttooth abutment when received therein.

4. A removable artificial brid for use in d teeth havabutments,comprising a removable sad le portion arranged to rest upon the naturalgum between such permain the Patent Oflice.

' [sun] nent teeth and recessed to receive said proecting abutments, anartificial tooth carried by said saddle portion, and retaining abutmentscarried by said saddle portion and positioned to engage said permanentprojectby said saddle portion, and retaining abutments comprising amovable bar of spring material having a latching portion normallypositioned within a saddle recess to underlie the permanent toothabutment received therein, said bar being provided with an extensionwhereby it may be moved to withdraw its latching ortion from beneathsaid permanent tooth a mtment and thereby permit the removal of thebridge.

ERNEST o. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. A, Pmsn, E. E. Mom.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,074,345, grantedSeptember 30, 1913, upon the application of Ernest C. Bennetlg of NewYork, N. Y., for an Y improvement in Artificial Dentures, errorsappear'in the printed specification requiring correction follows: Page1, line 88, for the reference-numeral 8'- read 8,' page 3, strike outline 26; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the easeSigned and sealed this-14th dayof October, A. 1)., 1913.

i R. T. FRAZIER,

